Letters

Climate alarmism

Peter Donald

Contents - May 2011 - Buy a copy now Benedict XVI: The true meaning of mature faith - Pope Benedict XVI Two million in Rome for beatification of John Paul II - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Modern martytrs: Shahbaz Bhatti (1968-2011): Pakistan's contemporary martyr - Babette Francis Culture: The decline of the Christian West - Cardinal Raymond Burke Oppression: Christians under fire worldwide - Cardinal Sean Brady The Anglican Ordinariate: what impact on Catholic worship? - Shawn Tribe Interview: International Conference on Eucharistic Adoration in Rome - Father Florian Racine University Life: Australian Catholic Students' Conference 2011 a success - Br Barry Coldrey Liturgy: Welcome to the new translation of the Missal - Audrey English Literature: The 'impossible dream' of Don Quixote - Part 2 (Matthew 6:19) - Andrew Kania Letters: Climate alarmism - Peter Donald Letters: 'Spirit of Vatican II' - Fr. M. Durham Letters: Simon of Cyrene - Andrew Sholl Letters: A mixture - Arnold Jago Letters: William Wardell - Cambria M. Parkinson Poetry: One Cross - Bruce Dawe Books: CHRISTIANITY IN IRAQ, by Suha Rassam - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: SIMON, CALLED PETER, by Dom Mauro-Guissepe Lepori, O.Cist. - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ELIZABETH HAYES: Pioneer Franciscan Journalist, by Pauline J. Shaw - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: DAUGHTER OF MAN, MOTHER OF GOD, by Barry M. Coldrey - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: The Resurrection: ultimate meaning of our existence - Fr Dennis Byrnes

It was a pleasure to read William Kininmonth's reasoned defence of Cardinal Pell's statements on climate change issues in April's AD2000.

The alarmist term, "climate change" is code for "dangerous global warming caused by human carbon dioxide emissions."

Alarmist claims sponsored by the IPCC (an intergovernmental panel, not a scientific body) are based exclusively on an unquestioning belief in speculative computer models, which have been unable to even predict current temperatures since the planet's temperature hasn't increased nearly as much as forecast by the models. After the temperature peak in 1998 (a strong El Nino year), the temperature has levelled off and is now gently declining.

In the real world, despite increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, data over the past 10 years shows:

- Global temperature has slightly declined. (There has been no warming trend for 14 years).

- The oceans are cooling slightly.

- Global sea-level rise has remained stable, with no net acceleration.

With the possibility that warming may have ceased and the case that man was responsible for much of the barely measureable warming that occurred last century being weak, one can understand the sense of urgency experienced by those with a vested interest in climate alarmism. This urgency is heightened by fear that more of the public is waking up to the scam.

The climate hysteria over a few tenths of a degree change in average world temperature last century is parroted in Australia, particularly by those who stand to gain from the man-made climate change agenda.

It is scientifically and historically illiterate to claim that climate was static for thousands of years and temperatures only increased with the onset of industrialisation. This was clearly illustrated by Mr Kininmonth. The climate will continue to change as it always has and spending billions of dollars on futile measures to stop natural climate events will only reduce our capacity to adapt to natural climate change in the future.

PETER DONALD
Canterbury, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 24 No 4 (May 2011), p. 15